Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1887-01-22
IRRIGATION.

In the lntTOuucLlon Ol sOue systSm Va -
~rigation is very important. The future
prosperity of our State may be truth
fully said to be largely dependent upon
favorable legislation with regard to this
question. The agricultural resources OF
Nevada have been underestimated. Few
of our people apprehend even In
agination the possible material resources
of the State if they could be developed
and fostered by q liberal and compre.
hensive system of irrigation. 1t has
been demonstrated by actual experiment
that, by the aid of water, land before
supposed utterly worthless has been
made to produce good crops. A knowl.
edge Of this fact has induced many PEG.
pie to secure and monopolize the most
accessible streams of water in our State,
one tendency of which is to retard and
perhaps prevent that immigration which
we so much need, as much as our land is
unproductive without irrigation. 1t lie
true that there is much waste land IN
the State, and vast tracts of land that
are only tit for grazing purposes, but
wherever water can be obtained the land
is exceedingly productive. Nearly every
crop of grain, fruit and cereals which
can be raised in the temperate zone can
be produced in abundance upon the sage.
brush lands OF Nevada when irrigated.
The only impediment to settlement is the
cost of the construction OF hydraulic
works for irrigation. Probably as much
as ninety.tive per cent OF the water in
all the streams of Nevada now run to
waste. If it could be saved and used
upon land a good many hundreds Of
thousands, and perhaps millions, of acres
in this State might be reclaimed and con-
verified into homes for settlers.
Take, for example, the Carson river.
For several months in the year there is a
vast surplus OF water running to waste,
which might, without any unreasonable
expenditure of money, be stored in reser'
voirs in the mountains, and used at the
dry season both for irrigation and water
power. II this were done all the land in
Carson and Eagle Valleys, as well as vast
tracts lower down on the river, might
have an ample supply Of water for all
purposes.
l am credibly informed by those who
are familiar with the country about the
headwaters of the Carson river that there
are numerous small fats and lakes where
water could be easily stored. The first
requisite in any system contemplated for
the reclamation Of desert lands is ac-
curate and reliable surveys and estimates,
not only for reservoirs to store water,
but for the lines of bitches to be con-
structed and the land which can be re.
claimed by means of such bitches.
The condition of Nevada is entirely
similar, so far as retaining it's sagebrush
deserts is concerned, to all that vast
region between the plains of the Missouri
river and the Sierra Nevada Mountains,
where irrigation is necessary to produce
crops. The Government of the United
States has a deep interest in this vast
region, for in it a large population can
be maintained and homes secured for
millions of settlers. But settlers cannot
go upon the lands as they are now stu.
ate, as individual effort avails nothing
in making farms upon our %sagebrush
deserts, except in a few instances where
streams can be turned at tri1ing ex.
pense. II the Government of the United
States would institute a system Of topo.
graphical and photographed surveys,
whereby exact information could be OBJ.
tanned as to the cost of construction OF
hydraulic works, and the amount and
character of the land which could be re.
claimed thereby, a foundation would be
laid for either the introduction of private
capital on such terms as Congress might
prescribe, or direct aid by the Govern
ment in constructing the main reservoirs
and canals to be afterwards turned over
tions as Congress may prescribe.
By carrying out such measures as have
been suggested the general Government
would create a demand for it's unsold
lands in this State, aud thereby be the
means of providing homes to thousands
of people. Millions OF dollars are an.
nually appropriated by Congress for the
improvement of rivers and harbors of
the Eastern States, from which Nevada
derives only a remote benefit. The in
auguration of a system of internal i'm.
provements. as suggested, would be of
direct benefit to the entire western por-
tion Of our national domain.
That you may be enabled to form some
estimate of the possible resources of our
State, if water for irrigation of u
barren land could, in a comprehensive
system, be made available, I herewith
submit for your consideration. by the
courtesy of the Southern Pacific Com.
pany. a list of the principal articles ex.
ported from the State of Nevada during
the year 1885 and eight months of 1886:
First 8 m'the
Articles. 1885. 1886.
In carloads Pounds. Pounds
Barley ......... 2,697. $40 1911 $50
Base metal ...... 1927. 22O 1868. 800
Borax. .......... 5,505, $40 AHA, 900
Brick ........... ........ 10000
Cattle. MAJ. 7S5. 500 *3l $50, 600
Copper .......... 92,500 %, 300
Copper matte !. 1873, 800 $40, 9lO
Hay. . 5,381. $50 1858, 700
Hides ......... 564, 800 81, $3.50
Hogs .......... los, 900 .......
Horaes NJ 49,. 900 NJ .OOO mn